Method and apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a staple fiber web or the like



u 6, 1967 w. NAEGELI METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUSINTRODUCTION OF LIQUID INTO A STAPLE FIBER WEB OR THE LIKE Flled Nov 261963 2 Sheets-Sheet L INVENTOR. JJERNER N nzgaLi June 6, 1967 w. NAEGELI3,323,176

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS INTRODUCTION OF LIQUID INTO ASTAPLE FIBER WEB OR THE LIKE Filed NOV. 26, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. (116mm Nnegali United States Patent 3,323,176 METHOD ANDAPPARATUS FOR THE CONTIN- UOUS INTRODUCTION OF LIQUID INTO A STAPLEFIBER WEB OR THE LIKE Werner Naegeli, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignorto Pavena A.G., a corporation of Switzerland Filed Nov. 26, 1963, Ser.No. 326,058 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Dec. 7, 1962,14,359/62 18 Claims. (CI. 1966) The present invention relates to animproved method for continuously introducing liquid into a staple fiberweb as produced by drafting as well as to an improved apparatus forcarrying out the aforesaid method.

Processes for the moistening or wetting of staple fibers are alreadyknown to the art which are based upon the principle of either sprayingthe card web or conducting the staple fiber band or sliver through aliquid bath. However, if a web is sprayed then the wetting thereof isvery small. On the other hand, if the compact staple fiber band orsliver is conducted through a liquid bath then there results reduceddegrees of moistening from the outside towards the inside of the sliver,completely considered apart from the air inclusions which cannot beeliminated.

The mentioned disadvantages cannot be tolerated, for example, whenperforming a spinning operation in accordance with assignees processtaught in copending United States application, Ser. No. 299,550, filedAug. 2, 1963, now United States Patent 3,191,375, granted June 29, 1965,and invented by Werner Naegeli. These disadvantages do not appear withthe present invention since the proposed method resides in the featuresthat a liquid which is at a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressureis forced or pressed through a staple fiber layer exhibiting a givencross-section in the presence of backing support therefor, and theexcess liquid is removed or squeezed out in a pressure zone effectingwithdrawal with simultaneous compression, forming and smoothing of theband or sliver. Generally speaking, the apparatus for carrying out theaforedescribed process or method embodies a liquid supply means arrangedto one side of the fiber layer, guide surface means for supporting theside of the fiber layer opposite said one side and constructed to permitpassage of the liquid, and a pair of calender rollers for withdrawingthe formed band or sliver from the guide surface means.

In consideration of the foregoing it should, therefore, be appreciatedthat a primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod and apparatus for the continuous application of a liquid to astaple fiber Web as produced by drafting which overcomes thedisadvantages present in prior art devices as mentioned herein.

A further important object of the present invention is the provision ofan improved method and apparatus for the continuous introduction ofliquid to a web or the like as produced by drafting and formed into athicker fiber layer wherein there is undertaken substantially uniformand effective wetting or moistening of the entire fiber layer.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of thepresent invention will become apparent from the detailed descriptiongiven hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detaileddescription and specific examples, while indicating preferredembodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only,since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope ofthe invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdetailed description.

3,323,176 Patented June 6, 1967 In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of an entiresliver or band machine here employed in carrying out the inventiveprocess;

FIGURE 2 illustrates details of the liquid applying apparatus of thesliver machine of FIGURE 1, partly in cross-section;

FIGURE 3 illustrates a detail, in cross-section, of the guide surfacemeans employed in the liquid applying apparatus of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines IVIV of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 illustrates in cross-sectional view a modified form of liquidapplying apparatus;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 5 takenalong lines VIVI thereof;

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines VII-VII of FIGURE5;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal section through a variant form of liquidapplying apparatus;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal section through another embodiment of liquidapplying apparatus;

FIGURE 10 is a longitudinal section through still a further embodimentof liquid applying apparatus; and

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional vie-w of the embodiment of FIGURE 9 takenalong lines XI-XI thereof.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly to the embodimentdepicted in FIGURES 1-4, it will be seen that a staple fi-ber web 1subjected to a drafting operation at a group of rollers 2a of a draftingarrangement 2, arrives at a liquid applying or introducing device 3supplied with liquid from a pressure tank or vessel 4. The thus formedsliver or band is removed from this location by means of a pair ofcalender rollers 5 and delivered to a suitable depositing mechanism 6 egfunnel or trumpet wheel for laying out in a conventional sliver can 6a.The liquid removed by the calender rollers 5 is collected in appropriatereceiver vats or collecting troughs '7 and though the agency of a pump 8and filter 9 is again returned in convenient manner to the pressure tankor vessel 4.

As best seen by referring to FIGURE 2, the liquid ap plying device 3 ofFIGURE 1 essentially embodies a web forming element 10 constructed suchto transform the web 1 from a fiat or plane configuration into tubular,

form. More specifically, such transformation of the shape of the web asaforedescribed, occurs by providing an increasing curling or rolling-inof both sides of the web edges 11 towards the center of the web (seeFIGURE '4), and for such" length of time until there results mutualcontact of the aforesaid edges 11, as shown. Further details of theexact structure of the web forming element 10 for producing such atubular cross-section are not believed necessary for the understandingof the teachings of the present invention, and thus, will not beundertaken herein, especially since these details constitute the subjectmatter of a separate application.

Shortly before the location at which the circular-shaped closing of theWeb appears there is introduced into the not yet closed sliver or bandliquid supply means, here shown to be a liquid infeed or supply conduit12 possessing a curved portion 12a and which extends in the direction oftravel of the material, as best seen from FIGURE 2. Afterwards the thusformed fiber layer is compacted under the action of an inlet guide ornozzle 14 so that the conduit mouth 13 disposed further below iscompletely encircled by fiber material, in order that this fibermaterial can then be handled by an externally support-, ing guidesurface means which narrows towards the bottom, in this embodimentincorporating a spiral or helical wire 15.

The pitch of the spiral wire 15 i advantageously selected such thatsufiicient intermediate space remains to permit the liquid streaming outof the discharge mouth 13 of the supply conduit 12 to be easily removedradially from internally of the spiral wire 15 through the fiber layertowards the outside, with simultaneous displacement of air. The encasingor covering 16 disposed about the spiral wire 15 serves solely toprotect the surrounding regions from spray. The wire itself from whichthe spiral wire 15 is wound, is advantageously covered with awearresistant, anti-adhesive jacket 17 providing small frictionalresistance as possible, for example formed of Teflon or similar material(see FIGURE 3).

After the formed sliver or band has passed through the spiral wire 15and the liquid has moved from the inside to the outside thereof and theentrained air displaced, such is pressed by a pair of calender rollers18 with high specific pressure, so that excess liquid escapes and isseparated therefrom. Under the term excess liquid as employed hereinthere is to be understood a quantity of liquid which is greater thanthat quantity which the fiber layer or material can retain, even underthe most favorable conditions. At the same time there results asmoothing of the highly compacted or compressed sliver coming from thecalender rollers 18 with substantially rectangular cross-sectional form.The calender rollers 18 preferably embody disks or plates 18a whichcorrespond to the width of the sliver or band. Additionally, thispressure zone or region is laterally closed or bounded by a respectiveplate 19. It should be appreciated that such pressure zone builds upliquid pressure to obtain a hydrodynamic action which compacts, formsand smooths the band.

Another embodiment of the present invention is de picted in FIGURES to7. In this instance, the infeed conduit 20, as best shown in FIGURES 6and 7, widens into a hood or cap 22 connected with a spiral wire 21providing the guide surface means. The guide surfaces of the spiral wire21 itself transform from an initial oval cross-section into a tubularcross-section at the mouth thereof (see FIGURES 5 and 7). The hood 22extends approximately to the center of the shorter sides 21a of thespiral wire 21 as clearly shown in FIGURE 7, in order on the one hand toguarantee for the passage of liquid from the hood 20 into the longerside 2112 of the aforesaid spiral wire 21 and through the sliver or bandand, on the other hand, again out of this spiral wire as a transversethroughfiow. Above the spiral wire 21 there is arranged the inlet guideor nozzle 144. At the lower end of the arrangement there is againprovided a small pair of calender rollers 23a embodying disks 23 (FIGURE5) advantageously corresponding to the desired sliver or band width, theclamping line of which is located within the cover or boundary plates 24disposed at both sides of said disks 23. These cover plates 24 togetherwith the disks 23 form a pressure zone and free the sliver or bandleaving the spiral wire 21 from surplus or excess liquid. This removedexcess liquid is collected in containers or vats 25 and from there isagain delivered to the circulation system. A generally indicated inFIGURE 5, one of the calender rollers is mounted to be stationary andthe other is displaceably mounted under spring pressure, as at 2312, forgenerating pressure.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 8 the internal surfaces 26 ofthe multiple threads 27 which narrow towards the bottom undertake thefunction of the guide surface means. The liquid introduced via the pipeor tube 28 thus flows, after radial passage through the fiber layerexhibiting ring-shaped cross-section, downwardly in the spiral-shapedconstructed course of threads 29, where it discharges or escapes.

In the modification shown in FIGURES 9 and 11 the introduction of liquidoccurs in a nozzle cascade, generally denoted by reference numeral 30.This nozzle cascade 30 is advantageously formed by threading or other-Wise connecting circular plates 31 having nozzle-shaped bores 32 ontoone another, and from which bores radial grooves or channels 33 aremilled, or otherwise formed, which serve for the discharge of air andliquid escaping from the formed band or sliver. The diameter of therespective bores 32 of the individual plates 31 reduces in size in thedirection of material or band travel towards the discharge mouth.

A further possibility for introducing liquid into the fiber layer isdepicted in FIGURE 10. In this embodiment the fiber layer is directlyconducted into the spiral wire 34 with the elimination of an inletnozzle. For this purpose the spiral wire 34 is pronouncedly displacedabove the discharge mouth of the liquid infeed conduit or delivery pipe35, as shown, and forms from the outset a strongly narrowing guidesurface means.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practisedwithin the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the present invention, what is desired to besecured by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. Method for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiber layerformed from a staple fiber web as produced by drafting comprising thesteps of: forming the web into a thicker fiber layer possessing adetermined cross-section, forcing a liquid which is subjected to a"pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure through the fiber layerwhile providing backing support for said fiber layer, forming the fiberlayer into a band, and removing excess liquid in a pressure zoneeffecting withdrawal of the thus formed band while simultaneouslycompacting, further forming and smoothing said band.

2. Method for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiber layerformed from a staple fiber web according to claim 1 wherein the step ofremoving excess liquid N is achieved by squeezing such out of the band.

- fiber layer from the inside thereof radially towards the outside.

4. Method for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiber layerformed from a staple fiber web according to claim 1 wherein the fiberlayer possesses a substantially oval cross-section and the liquid isforced from one longer side of the oval cross-section fiber layer to theoppositely disposed longer side thereof.

5. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed from a staple fiber web, comprising means for forming thestaple fiber web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed means disposed atone. side of the fiber layer for forcing an excess of liquidtransversely through the entire fiber layer, said forming meansincluding stationary guide surface means for supporting the side of thefiber layer opposite said one side and including means to permit passageof the liquid therethrough, a pair of calender rollers for withdrawingthe fiber layer formed into a band from said guide surface means, and alateral cover plate arranged at each side of said pair of calenderrollers for forming a pressure zone extending at all sides of the bandto provide substantial uniform removal of excess liquid.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said liquid infeed meanscomprises a pipe member which is disposed in a central position withrespect to said stationary guide surface means.

'7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said stationary guide surfacemeans is hollow and said pipe member extends into said hollow stationaryguide surface means in the direction of travel of the fiber layer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said stationary guide surfacemeans narrows in the direction of travel of the fiber layer.

9. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said forming means furtherincludes inlet guide means operatively communicating with saidstationary guide surface means.

18. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed from a throughpassing staple fiber web, comprising meansfor forming the staple fiber Web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed meansdisposed at one side of the fiber layer, said forming means includingguide surface means for supporting the side of the fiber layer oppositesaid one side constructed to permit passage of the liquid, said guidesurface means comprising a spiralshaped wire, the inner surface of whichprovides guide surfaces for the fiber layer, and a pair of calenderrollers for withdrawing the fiber layer formed into a band from saidguide surface means.

11. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed from a throughpassing staple fiber web, comprising meansfor forming the staple fiber web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed meansdisposed at one side of the fiber layer, said forming means includingguide surface means for supporting the side of the fiber layer oppositesaid one side constructed to permit passage of the liquid, said guidesurface means being provided with a bore having multiple threads, theinner surfaces of which provide guide surfaces for the fiber layer, saidliquid infeed means extending into said bore, and a pair of calenderrollers for withdrawing the fiber layer formed into a band from saidguide surface means.

12. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed from a throughpassing staple fiber web, comprising meansfor forming the staple fiber web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed meansdisposed at one side of the fiber layer, said forming means includingguide surface means for supporting the side of the fiber layer oppositesaid one side constructed to permit passage of the liquid, said guidesurface means embodying a nozzle cascade provided with radial fluidoutlet channel means, and a pair of calender rollers for withdrawing thefiber layer formed into a band for said guide surface means.

13. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed from a throughpassing staple fiber web, comprising meansfor forming the staple fiber web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed meansdisposed at one side of the fiber layer, said forming means includingguide surface means for supporting the side of the fiber layer oppositesaid one side constructed to permit passage of the liquid, a pair ofcalender rollers for withdrawing the fiber layer formed into a band fromsaid guide surface means, said pair of calender rollers comprising twodisk members urged towards one another, a lateral cover plate arrangedat each side of said two disk members for forming a pressure zoneextending at all sides of the band to provide substantial uniformremoval of excess liquid.

14. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed from a throughpassing staple fiber web, comprising meansfor forming the staple fiber web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed meansdisposed to one side of the fiber layer for forcing an excess of liquidat a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure substantiallytansversely through the entire fiber layer from the inside towards theoutside, said forming means including stationary guide surface means forsupporting the side of the fiber layer opposite said one side andincluding means to permit passage of the liquid therethrough saidstationary guide surface means being con- "structed to impart aband-like configuration to the fiber layer departing therefrom, andmeans providing a pressure zone for withdrawing the fiber layer formedinto a band from said stationary guide surface means whilesimultaneously compacting, forming and smoothing said band into desiredconfiguration.

15. Method for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiber layerformed from a staple fiber web as produced by drafting, comprising thesteps of: forming the web into a thicker fiber layer of substantiailyround configuration and possessing a predetermined cross-section,forcing a liquid which is subjected to a pressure in excess ofatmospheric pressure through the fiber layer and in an excess quantitywhile providing backing support for said fiber layer, simultaneouslyforming the fiber layer into a band while subjected to the action of thebacking support, and removing excess liquid in a pressure zone effectingwithdrawal of the thus formed band while simultaneously compacting,further forming and smoothing said band.

16. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed from a staple fiber web, comprising means for forming thestaple fiber web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed means disposed at oneside of the fiber layer for forcing an excess of liquid transverselythrough the entire fiber layer, said liquid infeed means incorporatingmechanism for forcing said liquid at pressure in excess of atmosphericpressure through said fiber layer, said forming means includingstationary guide surface means for supporting the side of the fiberlayer opposite said one side and including means to permit passage ofthe liquid therethrough, means encircling said stationary guide surfacemeans to protect the surrounding regions against liquid spray whichresults when forcing said liquid at excess pressure through said fiberlayer, and a pair of calender rollers for withdrawing the fiber layerformed into a band from said guide surface means.

17. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed fro-m a staple fiber web, comprising means for forming thestaple fiber web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed means disposed at oneside of the fiber layer for forcing an excess of liquid transverselythrough the entire fiber layer, said forming means including stationaryguide surface means for supporting the side of the fiber layer oppositesaid one side and including means to permit passage of the liquidthere-through, said stationary guide surface means providing aspiral-shaped support for the fiber layer which forms the latter into afiber band upon leaving said stationary guide surface means, and a pairof calender rollers for withdrawing the fiber layer formed into a bandfrom said guide surface means.

18. Apparatus for the continuous introduction of liquid into a fiberlayer formed from a staple fiber web, compris ing means for forming thestaple fiber web into a fiber layer, liquid infeed means disposed at oneside of the fiber layer for forcing an excess of liquid transverselythrough the entire fiber layer, said forming means including stationaryguide surface means for supporting the side of the fiber layer oppositesaid one side and including means to permit passage of the liquidtherethrough, said stationary guide surface means being formed topossess a substantially oval cross-section, said liquid infeed meansbeing disposed in the region of the longer external side of saidstationary guide surface means such that the liquid is supplied in adirection transverse to the direction of travel of the fiber layer, anda pair of calender rollers for withdrawing the fiber layer formed into aband from said guide suface means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,956,450 4/1934 McGinnis l9662,115,218 4/1938 Siever 1966 2,665,189 1/1954 Cox 1966 X 2,803,1258/1957 Mesek 19-66 X 2,979,781 4/1961 Reider 19-7 3,214,819 11/1965Guerin 2872 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. DORSEY NEWTON, Examiner.

1. METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS INTRODUCTION OF LIQUID INTO A FIBER LAYERFORMED FROM A STAPLE FIBER WEB AS PRODUCED BY DRAFTING COMPRISING THESTEPS OF: FORMING THE WEB INTO A THICKER FIBER LAYER POSSESSING ADETERMINED CROSS-SECTION, FORCING A LIQUID WHICH IS SUBJECTED TO APRESSURE IN EXCESS OF ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE THROUGH THE FIBER LAYER WHILEPROVIDING BACKING SUPPORT FOR SAID FIBER LAYER, FORMING THE FIBER LAYERINTO A BAND, AND REMOVING EXCESS LIQUID IN A PRESSURE ZONE EFFECTINGWITHDRAWAL OF THE THUS FORMED BAND WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY COMPACTING,FURTHER FORMING AND SMOOTHING SAID BAND.